PREGNANT AFTER ONE NIGHT STAND

Well, this is the fate of having friends who are expert interrogators. I feel powerless receiving all these relentless questions that seem to corner me. And to add to it, Naomi’s gaze makes it seem like I’m making up stories. If my hand wasn’t hooked up to an IV, I would have surely covered Naomi’s mouth tightly to make her stop talking!

“Just scold him, Cedric. This time, I’m a hundred percent on your side.” Dona said while giving him a thumbs up. “Anya’s brain is missing. I think a shark ate it. She keeps fainting during pregnancy. Isn’t fainting exhausting? She keeps making us worry! She’ll probably make both of us die young, Nao!”

Naomi laughed following Dona’s nonsensical complaints. They were sitting on the sofa in the corner. Cedric just smiled in response to all their teasing. “She already scolded me earlier. Don’t take too long, or she’ll start crying again.”

Ugh, Cedric is so annoying!!! I pouted as he directed his gaze towards me. We were caught red-handed exchanging kisses earlier, about half an hour ago. And then it continued with Naomi and Dona teasing me mercilessly, and this time, I couldn’t refute at all. So, I hid behind Cedric’s back, feeling comfortable.

With the live show earlier, Dona was even more into bullying me. She said I’m an acute level hypocrite! It was clearly evident and obvious, according to her. But earlier, Cedric defended me, saying that he was the one who kissed me first. A sick person wouldn’t randomly start kissing people. Whatever. I’m already soaked in embarrassment, so if they push me further to drown me completely, I surrender.

“Naomi and I have prepared your clothes and essentials. You’re going to rest completely here. Don’t keep making us worried, okay?” Naomi walked closer to me. “Luckily Cedric was there earlier, what if he wasn’t?”

“Hey, how’s Henry doing?” Dona suddenly asked. I felt like sinking into the ground! Why did she have to ask that? But I was also curious, though. Cedric hasn’t mentioned anything about Henry since earlier. I personally felt a bit scared, for some reason.

“Sorry, Cedric. Anya told us that she came here with Henry,” Dona said, unable to contain her excitement. “But it’s really sweet of you, Cedric. I’m so annoyed with Henry. He’s so pushy. Anya is a bit naive too, allowing him to get close all the time!”

“I’m not naive. I don’t want him to get close all the time. He’s the one pushing himself on me,” I said, defending myself. As if they can tease me about my romance with Cedric, but when it comes to Henry, it just irritates me.

“Did Henry finally find out that you’re pregnant, Anya?”

I sighed softly. “I was honest, you know, that Sunday. He didn’t believe me; said I was making up excuses to reject him. Well… that’s up to him. I’m not forcing him to believe anything. I don’t know what he knows now after this incident.” I shrugged.

That’s true. I don’t know if Henry truly understands that what I said wasn’t a joke. I don’t feel like discussing Henry with Cedric either. To be honest, my courage hasn’t fully grown yet. Especially after meeting him again and then fainting like this. It seems like I can’t take care of myself properly, you know?

“He knows now,” Cedric said calmly. “That’s why he went straight home after the doctor explained in detail about your condition.”

Both Naomi and Dona burst into laughter. “Serves him right! That’s what happens when you play with people’s feelings!”

I guess Dona has a personal grudge against Henry. Hearing Cedric say that with such confidence, I feel relieved. I don’t have any feelings left for Henry. It’s over.

“I’m glad to hear that. So, you two are safe alone. Right, Don?” Naomi asked while hugging Dona who nodded in agreement. “We’ll leave now. We’ll come back tomorrow. I’m really tired. I want to sleep.”

I smiled faintly. “Who told you to come here?”

“You’re so ungrateful, Anya!”

Naomi laughed while I pouted. “You’re annoying,” I said to Dona who stood beside me. “Take care, Naomi. You too, Dona,” I added because I feel like I’ve burdened both of them enough.

They chuckled and came closer to me, giving warm hugs that I always enjoy. Cedric escorted them to the front door, tidying up the belongings that Naomi left near the sofa. I’m sure Cedric told them about what happened to me. I never imagined that the three of them wouldn’t be in my life. Perhaps the loneliness that keeps coming won’t go away far.

Just having Naomi and Dona makes me so happy. The three of us never hurt each other. Maybe it’s because our friendship is genuine, so we always try to support each other in any way possible. Maybe it’s because of our backgrounds that make us stick together. I don’t know. I just hope this friendship will last until we grow old.

Now, there’s Cedric. Can I say that I’m quite lucky in life? Though, well… I doubted it at the beginning. Everything seemed to be heading in a bad direction. What can I say? I’m a realist. But seeing Cedric’s sincerity, I’m confident that I made the right decision.

“Why are you daydreaming?” Cedric teased, now sitting beside me. “What do you want to eat? Or do you need something?”

I smirked. “Just eating all the time. I’ll get fat.”

Cedric just smiled. He took both of my free hands and entwined his big fingers with mine. “So… do you want to explain more about Sunday?”

“I already told you everything in the message. Isn’t it clear?”

Cedric can be so annoying! He shook his head instead. “Not clear, Anya, try explaining it again. So I can understand.”

“I’m sick, I need a lot of rest,” I replied.

“Rest from what? Talking or kissing?” he teased.

“Cedric!!!” I glared at him, and he rewarded me with a quick kiss on the forehead.

“I know, I’ve read everything,” he said.

“And then?” I asked.

His forehead creased. I was getting frustrated. “What do you mean, Joice? I don’t understand.”

“Ugh!” I tried to free my hands, but it wasn’t easy. Cedric held onto them.

“Joice, your hands have the IV tube. Even I handle them carefully. Don’t pull like that.”Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

I got even more annoyed! It’s my hand, not his! Why is he the one getting troubled by it? Because Cedric didn’t let me move freely, I gave in. After all, I felt comfortable with both our hands interlocked.

When he gazed at me, I knew I couldn’t turn away. Even if Henry interrupted so loudly, I realized that Cedric had already become too deeply involved in my life. I owe him an apology, regardless of what happened today. It all started with me. If only I could control my unease around Henry, this wouldn’t have happened. Right?

“Sorry,” I said softly.

“For what?”

“About what happened on Sunday.”

“Why apologize?”

“See! It’s hard for me to say sorry!” I exclaimed.

Cedric smiled sweetly. “You’ve been so gentle with me; I’ve already forgotten about what happened on Sunday. Even though I got really mad seeing you in an intimate embrace with-”

“I didn’t kiss him! He forced me, you know!” I defended myself. It’s the truth. Cedric has to know that I didn’t enjoy that so-called kiss he’s talking about.

“Besides him forcing a kiss on you, what else did Henry do to you?”

“Are you accusing me of something with Henry, Cedric?” I asked, disbelieving. My goodness! I’m not a cheap woman!

“It’s not like that. That’s not what I meant, Joice.” Cedric suddenly hugged me. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m sure you know your boundaries, especially when your friend said that Henry forced his way into your life. I mean, has he done anything bad to you when I’m not around?”

I shook my head in his embrace. I smelled the aroma I missed so much, inhaling deeply and filling the air to keep it from fading away.

“Forgive me too. I should have taken better care of you. I will-”

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” I said, pushing his chest. I didn’t care if my eyes started to get teary. I hate being promised like that. “Just prove it.”

“I will. I’ll make up for this mistake, Joice.”

Then he kissed my forehead.

For a long time.

“Now explain, where have you been for the past week?” I asked Cedric.